Tri-Previfem and Headaches: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2019

For Acne "This pill is the worst. I have constant headaches, depression, major depression. I cry all the time, and I don’t know why. My period was really light for two days, then, it just became really heavy all of a sudden. I’ve lost weight, I don’t have an appetite. I would not recommend anyone to take this pill."

• BP1...
• February 25, 2013

For Birth Control "I found Tri-Previfem to be an effective contraceptive for my boyfriend and me; however, I have recently started getting sudden and severe headaches, and in some cases, body aches. I can't leave my room or function when these happen, so I usually just sleep. It's really hard being a college student who needs to get work done when I get sudden severe headaches. On the bright side, I've noticed no weight gain, and my skin cleared up. My periods also became regular."

• Ccm...
• September 28, 2015

For Birth Control "As a birth control, this is very effective. However, after being on it for 11 months, the side effects did a complete 180 on me for the worse. One day, I woke up and felt so extremely depressed, and from that point on, my whole summer spiraled downwards. I experienced hellish anxiety, fatigue, confusion, headaches and migraines, major depression, and suicidal thoughts, and the list could go on forever. I have always been mentally and physically healthy, so experiencing such a terrible summer was a life-changing experience. I have been 3 months clean from that poison, and I do not recommend anyone to take it. It was like feeding the devil into my soul. Please, please, please do not take this."

• Sar...
• September 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I am now on the last week of my second pack of Tri-Previfem. I started using this medicine only for birth control, and it has caused many side effects. The first few weeks, I had severe headaches, and since I started taking it, I have noticed weight gain. Also, my breasts have definitely become bigger and are always very sore. The first month of taking it, my period was much heavier than usual and lasted longer. I have noticed I have been more depressed as well. However, for the purpose of birth control, I haven't gotten pregnant. But I think I will be switching to a different one soon."

• Anonymous
• May 18, 2014

For Birth Control "The only complaint I have about this birth control is bad tension headaches and fatigue, but I'll take that over weight gain and acne, which fortunately this birth control doesn't cause at all! It also made my cysts go away and is free or really cheap with insurance. Would recommend to anyone!"

• Kme...
• April 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I personally do not like this pill. This is my second month of being on it. The first month was good, like normal. I noticed that my period was a day later than usual and that my period cramps were worse than before (I struggle with severe cramps at least 2 times a year). The moment I started my second month on this pill, all hell broke loose. Day 2, Monday, I felt so sick and had a massive headache that no matter what I took would not leave. Day 3, I still felt so sick to my stomach and still had a headache. I had to get Excedrin just to ease the headache. Since I started my second month, I have noticed: weight gain/bloating, sore breasts, more sensitivity to touch, headaches, no appetite, nausea, depression, no motivation, and lack of sex drive. After this month, I'm going back to my original pills, Falmina, I don't care if I have to pay for them. I would rather pay $14 than feel like rubbish every day. Take this pill at your own risk."

• Nob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2016

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I was prescribed the name brand of this medicine, and my insurance decided that they would give me Tri-Previfem instead. For the first 3 or so months, things were fine, no big differences. After that, though, goodness gracious. Anxiety, depression, mood swings, NO SEX DRIVE, dryness 'down there,' no matter how bad I wanted to be. It's absolutely a horrible feeling not being able to be ready for your partner, and that puts such a stress on a relationship. On the menstrual time...... picture every horrible pregnancy symptom you could possibly have, triple it, and add to it the normals of your regular period. HEADACHES. If only the 1-10 scale had negative numbers. Save yourselves and stay away from this medicine."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2015

For Birth Control "Negative side effects: - Diarrhea for the first 4-5 days of taking it - Still heavy flow periods - Tension headaches every day - Breast tenderness - I feel that I've been eating more (not sure if that's because of the birth control) - Heavy PMSing before periods Positive side effects: - Shorter period - Less acne - Fewer cramps"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2013

For Birth Control "I was previously on Tri-Sprintec for years when my pharmacy started carrying Tri-Previfem. I switched, thinking it would affect me the same. However, I started getting headaches often, feeling weak, my face broke out, and I had spotting. I know that these effects may come when switching brands, but when I switched from Ortho TriCyclen Lo to its generic, then back to brand, then to Tri-Sprintec, I have never had any problems. I am a pharmacy technician, and I have had several customers that have had trouble when switching to Previfem or Tri-Previfem. I will be switching back to Tri-Sprintec once the pharmacy special orders it."

• kbr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Tri-Previfem going on my fourth month. I have noticed an increase in breast size, extra water weight, tenderness in breasts, along with nausea and headaches. It doesn't seem to be cooperating with my body, but I haven't gotten pregnant, which is good. I don't get pimples as much as I used to, and I'm more emotional. This is my first time on birth control, and I am not satisfied with it. I will be going back to my doctor for a change."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been using this birth control for a little over 2 months now, and even though it has worked so far for preventing pregnancy, the side effects are terrible. I thought at first that I was just sick, but I would only feel sick an hour after the pill. I take it at night before bed, the nausea is so bad it affects my sleep. And the first thing that happens when I wake up is very painful cramps and even more nausea. I get very long and painful headaches, and my emotions are all over the place-from angry and annoyed to anxious, then sad and crying for no reason. Along with all that, my breasts are sore. Just putting on a bra makes me cringe. The best way to describe the symptoms of this pill is pregnancy symptoms on steroids. Not recommended!!!"

• Han...
• January 23, 2015

For Endometriosis "I have endometriosis and have stomach pain, digestive problems, and abnormal bleeding. The digestive problems are just as bad as they were. My periods are better. The medicine does have side effects such as an unsettled stomach and headaches."

• eve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2015

For Acne "This BC helped with acne, but I also used Epiduo with it. The first month was great, no nausea or headaches (I'm prone to headaches). My acne was mild, and this pill helped clear it up a lot, along with Epiduo. The second month was where all the problems started. Within two days of the first week, I started getting headaches along with nausea and vomiting. It was awful, I threw up every night while taking this. I had a headache for four days straight as well. I'm not even to my second week of the second month of taking this, and I can't do it anymore, it's not worth it for me. My hormones are crazy, I'm not used to being so emotional and crying all the time. I wanted this pill to help clear up my mild acne, but I don't care anymore, this isn't worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2016

For Birth Control "The birth control does well with keeping you from getting pregnant. But I'm on my third month of taking the pill, and I've been bloated for about a week and a half now. I lost my appetite, mood swings, and headaches."

• Anonymous
• February 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I hate this birth control!!! I used to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and I loved it, never had any side effects or problems. I was switched to Tri-Previfem 3 months ago and it has been awful from day one. I have severe headaches from the beginning of my period to the end. I've gained 10 lbs. I have had a yeast infection every month since I've been on it. (I've never had yeast infections before). My mood swings are ridiculous. I never want to have sex. The list goes on. Do not get this birth control!"

• jeg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I went on this pill about 4 or so years ago and did not have too many issues. I occasionally broke out from time to time and I did gain a little weight over the last few years, but I think that's more my fault for living off a college diet and not exercising like I should have. I went on the pill almost as soon as I became sexually active and have not had any pregnancy scares, so it did that job in that respect. It also kept my periods regular and fairly short (about 4 days). However, around the time of my period, I experienced extremely bad headaches (sometimes migraines accompanied with vomiting), so my doctor just switched me over to a new pill recently. But other than that, I've had no complaints and would recommend this birth control."

• JBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been taking the Tri-Previfem pill for a few months now. I was on Ortho-Tricyclen for years with no issues, and then my insurance switched me to Tri-Previfem, and it's been awful. I now get headaches, stomach aches, and my sex drive is very low. I am going to go back to Ortho-Tricyclen, even if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I had a lot of stomach pains for over a month. I didn't get pregnant and had a normal period, but such severe stomach pains, along with an occasional headache, I had to switch to a lower hormone, so I'm using 'Gildess.' Now I'm sad the only side effect I seemed to have was stomach pain. But it was very persistent."

• Chi...
• June 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I started taking this medicine because my insurance wouldn't cover Ortho Tricyclen. This is only my second month, but I'm done - severe migraine throughout my period, tension headaches the rest of the time, and terrible over-bleeding, a problem I've never had with any other birth control."

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I took this birth control, Tri-Previfem, for 8 years. I just got switched today after talking to my OB/GYN and realizing that it was causing anxiety, depression, low sex drive, headaches, and extreme mood swings the week before my period. I thought it was all normal or just me, but she said it was the medicine. I have now been switched to Mili. It did regulate my periods, but I would have 7-9 days of fairly heavy bleeding each month, which is not supposed to be a thing. Very effective in preventing pregnancies, as I have not been pregnant while taking it."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2015

For Birth Control "This is the 3rd brand I've ever tried after having horrible side effects from the first two. For a while, this pill really worked for me, and I thought I finally found my brand. But a lot of little things like rapid heart rate, headaches, and frequent infections I finally linked to this. I never got pregnant, and it regulated my periods well. But eventually, my body started rebelling against this pill, and it wasn't worth it."

• Ish...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2016

For Acne "I've been taking it for three months now, and a week after starting it, my breasts got really sore. I don't know about weight gain, but I'm only getting really tiny pimples, which are normally gone by the end of the next day. Doesn't make me dry down there either. Sex drive is normal. I just feel a lot tired, and my head hurts occasionally, but that might just be the changing weather! Since I haven't been taking it for long, I think I'm going to wait two months or so and see how it treats me :)"

• AC1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for about 9 months. In the spring, I started back on this birth control after taking a break for a while. In May, I started having migraines. Previously, I had random headaches, but they were nothing Excedrin couldn't handle. After getting back on this BC, I had migraines the week of my cycle. I had extreme migraines to the point where I had to go to the doctor and get a shot. I was given a prescription (pills and shots I could give myself). My prescription ran out, and I waited a couple of months until I could return to my permanent home and go to the gyno. While I was off this medicine-no migraines. Just started back a few days ago and I'm nauseous, experiencing headaches, and emotional again."

• mad...
• November 5, 2015

For Acne "I started taking the BC 2 weeks ago, and I was very scared to start the pill. I started taking it because I was having the most irregular and painful periods ever, but this pill in no way has helped. My breasts are so sore I have to take medication, my face is breaking out so badly one of my relatives said the pill was 'destroying my complexion.' And worse of all, I'm experiencing cramps that are worse than I had before. Horrible headaches are keeping me from going to gymnastics practices, and it's causing my anxiety to get worse (I already had pretty bad anxiety). So, acne, headaches, cramps, painful breasts... wasn't this supposed to help me?"

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2020

For Acne "I began taking this birth control, Tri-Previfem, my freshman year of high school in hopes it would clear up my awful acne. The first three months were awful! My acne did get worse, and I was extremely insecure. However, by my sophomore year, I had the clearest skin ever and always received compliments. That being said, I did become extremely moody and irritable and gained around 15 lbs in a year. However, I am now a first-year college student, and I don't know if it's my body or the birth control, but now I experience period symptoms the entire week before my period and after, in which I'm extremely bloated, emotional, depressed, I get headaches, my skin doesn't seem to be as clear, and my appetite has gotten worse. I also am now getting yeast infections during my period, which sucks. I plan on switching birth control after this month."